Kicking game apparatus comprising a platform and numbered cubes to be kicked therefro



Jan. 21, 1964 L. E. w. LYLE 3,113,675

KICKING GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLATFORM AND NUMBERED CUBES TO BE KICKED THEREFROM Filed June 29, 1962 INVENTOR. LEWIS E.W. LYLE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,118,675 KICKIN G GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLATFORM AND NUMBERED CUBES TO BE KZCKED 'IHEREFROIVI Lewis E. W. Lyle, Box 534, Kodiak, Alaska Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,301 6 Claims. (Cl. 2731l8) This invention relates to improvements in kicking game apparatus, and more particularly to novel game apparatus of the kind which involves sets of numbered projectiles adapted to be kicked, one at a time, from a starting line platform.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an amusement and exercise producing apparatus of the kind indicated, which affords opportunity for the development of skill, as opposed to mere chance, and which, while primarily designed for use by children, is also suitable for use by adults.

Another object of the invention is the provision of game apparatus of the character indicated above, wherein the projectiles are cubes having different scoring numerals on their several faces, including zero, arranged in two sets of differently colored or otherwise distinguish able appearances, which are initially arranged in longitudinally spaced rows upon an elongated flat plate, serving as a starting line platform, and are adapted to be kicked singly off the platform, in turn, by each of two players, and wherein the winning player is determined by the sum of the numerals appearing uppermost on the cubes, when the cubes come to rest.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in game apparatus of the character indicated above, of flexible and resilient cubes, which eliminates damage to the shoes of the players, and a platform, which is collapsible to a fiat and compact package for easy storage and transportation.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective vie-w showing disposition of game apparatus of the present invention upon a playing surface, such as a floor or the ground, and showing cubes in place on the starting line platform and cubes resting upon said surface after having been kicked from the platform, a player being shown in phantom lines in kicking position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the platform, partly folded; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a cube, partly broken away and in section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated game apparatus comprises a normally horizontal, longitudinally elongated, rectangular starting line platform 19, and cubes 12.

The platform 19 comprises a plurality of similarly dimensioned elongated rectangular fiat, substantially thin but rigid panels, herein shown as being three panels, which, at their meeting ends, are secured together by means of hinges 16, fixed upon the upper surfaces of the panels, whereby alternate panels 14 can be folded upwardly and then downwardly, in overlapped relationship, onto an intervening panel 14', so as to form a fiat compact form, for easy storage when not in use.

The alternate or end panels 14 haxe executed, in suitable manner, upon their upper surfaces, four similar longitudinally spaced squares 18, of the same dimensions, as the sides of the cubes 12, and upon which the cubes 3,118,575 Patented Jan. 21, 1964 2 are adapted to be placed for starting the game. Fifth squares .29 are executed upon the upper surface of the intermediate panel 14, at the ends thereof, which are spaced from adjacent squares 18 of the panels 14, at the same distances the squares 18 are spaced from each other on the panels 14.

The space 22 on the upper surface of the intermediate panel 14', between its squares 18, is blank, except for a pair of transversely disposed, longitudinally spaced direction indicating arrows 24 having heads 26 located at one longitudinal edge of the intermediate panel 14, and the Word start positioned between the arrows 24, the surface between the arrows being the location on the platform 19 at which a kickers foot is adapted to be placed to start the game, that is, the right foot of the left-hand player and the left foot of the right-hand player.

The cubes 12 are hollow square bodies composed of resilient and compressible material such as rubber or rubber-like plastic material, having six external faces 28, on which are executed, in suitable manner, single numerals 3t ranging from zero to five. As shown in FIGURE 1, the cubes 12 are adapted to be placed upon the squares of the platform 19, with the zeros uppermost, at the start of play. The resilience and compressibility of the cubes 12 eliminates damage to the shoes and danger of injury to the kicking feet of the players.

The game is played by two players P. The first player places one foot on the word start on the intermediate platform panel 14' and then moves the other foot behind the innermost cube 12 of his set of five cubes, and kicks this cube forwardly away from the platform, in an endeavor to have the cube come to rest upon the playing surface S, with a high numeral uppermost. The players can take turns in kicking single successive cubes 12 from the platform 10, or each player can kick successively all of his set of cubes. The numerals uppermost on cubes of each set come to rest upon the playing surface S are added, and the highest total of numerals designates the winning player.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

e l. Kicking game apparatus comprising a platform adapted to rest upon a playing surface, differentiated sets of cubes initially resting upon the platform, said cubes having six faces having single successive numerals from zero to five executed thereon, and being adapted to be kicked one at a time off the platform onto the playing surface to come to rest with scoring numerals uppermost on the cubes, said platform being fiat and elongated with the sets of cubes arranged thereon in spaced longitudinal rows.

2. Kicking game apparatus comprising a platform adapted to rest upon a playing surface, differentiated sets of cubes initially resting upon the platform, said cubes having six faces having single successive numerals from zero to five executed thereon, and being adapted to be kicked one at a time off the platform onto the playing surface to come to rest with scoring numerals uppermost on the cubes, said platform being fiat and elongated with the sets of cubes arranged thereon in spaced longitudinal rows, the upper surface of the platform having spaced longitudinal rows of squares thereon extending from the ends of the platform and similar in area to sides of the cubes.

3. Kicking game apparatus comprising a platform adapted to rest upon a playing surface, differentiated sets of cubes initially resting upon the platform, said cubes having six faces having single successive numerals from zero to five executed thereon, and being adapted to be kicked one at a time off the platform onto the playing surface to come to rest with scoring numerals uppermost on the cubes, said platform being flat and elongated with the sets of cubes arranged thereon in spaced longitudinal rows, the upper surface of the platform having spaced longitudinal rows of squares thereon extending from the ends of the platform and similar in area to sides of the cubes, the space on the upper surface of the platform between the rows of squares being a starting area upon which a foot of a player is adapted to be placed for kicking off the platform the innermost cube of his set of cubes.

4. Kicking game apparatus comprising a platform adapted to rest upon a playing surface, differentiated sets of cubes initially resting upon the platform, said cubes having six faces having single successive numerals from zero to five executed thereon, and being adapted to be kicked one at a time off the platform onto the playing surface to come to rest with scoring numerals uppermost on the cubes, said platform being flat and elongated with the sets of cubes arranged thereon in spaced longitudinal rows, the upper surface of the platform having spaced longitudinal rows of squares thereon extending from the ends of the platform and similar in area to sides of the cubes, said platform being composed of panels arranged in end to end relationship and hinged together to be collapsed upon each other.

' 5. Kicking game apparatus comprising a platform adapted to rest upon a playing surface, differentiated sets of cubes initially resting upon the platform, said cubes having six faces having single successive numerals from zero to five executed thereon, and being adapted to be kicked one at a time off the platform onto the playing surface to come to rest with scoring numerals uppermost on the cubes, said platform being flat and elongated with the sets of cubes arranged thereon in spaced longitudinal rows, the upper surface of the platform having spaced longitudinal rows of squares thereon extending from the ends of the platform and similar in area to sides of the cubes, said platform being composed of panels arranged in end to end relationship and hinged together to be collapsed upon each other, said panels consisting of an intermediate panel and end panels, the end panels having squares extending their full length and the intermediate panel having longitudinally spaced squares located only at the ends thereof.

6. Kicking game apparatus comprising a platform adapted to rest upon a playing surface, difierentiated sets of cubes initially resting upon the platform, said cubes having six faces having single successive numerals from zeroto live executed thereon, and being adapted to be kicked one at a time 01f the platform onto the playing surface to come to rest With scoring numerals uppermost on the cubes, said platform being flat and elongated With the sets of cubes arranged thereon in spaced longitudinal rows, said cubes being hollow and being formed of resilient and compressible material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,257,779 Anderson Feb. 26, 1918 1,464,019 Wenzel Aug. 7, 1923 1,666,474 Sorell Apr. 17, 1928 2,454,478 Roberts Nov. 23, 1948 2,789,823 Bennett Apr. 23, 1957 3,017,186 Ascardi Jan. 16, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 367,196 Germany Jan. 18, 1923 

1. KICKING GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLATFORM ADAPTED TO REST UPON A PLAYING SURFACE, DIFFERENTIATED SETS OF CUBES INITIALLY RESTING UPON THE PLATFORM, SAID CUBES HAVING SIX FACES HAVING SINGLE SUCCESSIVE NUMERALS FROM ZERO TO FIVE EXECUTED THEREON, AND BEING ADAPTED TO BE KICKED ONE AT A TIME OFF THE PLATFORM ONTO THE PLAYING SURFACE TO COME TO REST WITH SCORING NUMERALS UPPERMOST ON THE CUBES, SAID PLATFORM BEING FLAT AND ELONGATED WITH THE SETS OF CUBES ARRANGED THEREON IN SPACED LONGITUDINAL ROWS. 